July 24, 2012

US egg production declines slightly in June

According to data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of USDA, US egg production reaches 7.50 billion during June, a minor decline from 2011.

Production included 6.47 billion table eggs, and 1.03 billion hatching eggs, of which 965 million were broiler-type and 68 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during June averaged 337 million, a slight increase from 2011. June egg production per 100 layers was 2,227 eggs, down slightly from June 2011.

All layers on July 1 declined slightly to 335 million, according to NASS. The 335 million layers consisted of 281 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 51.6 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.81 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on July 1 eased 1% to average 73.9 eggs per 100 layers.

Egg-type chicks hatched increased 1% to 39.4 million in June. Eggs in incubators totalled 34.2 million on July 1, down 1% from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totalled 119,000 during June, a decline of 61% from June 2011.

Broiler-type chicks hatched retreated 1% during June to 756 million, NASS said. Eggs in incubators totalled 612 million on July 1, down 1% from 2011.

Leading breeders placed 6.80 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during June, down 6% from June 2011.